Relay air-valve.



H. J. RICH'ARDSON. RELAY AIR VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 1908.

Patented May 24, 1910.

HARVEY J. RICMGAGO LLlsr AVNLABITE COPlY RELAY AIR-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 12

Application filed January 30, 1908. Serial No. 413,349.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARVEY J. RICHARD- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Relay Air-Valves, of which the following is a descri tion.

My invention belongs to that c ass of devices known as fluid or air valves, 'and is particularly adapted to be used in 'combination with that form of electrical apparatus know as a relay, or more particularly, a time limit relay. 'There are various ,styles and kinds of relays, that shown in 'the 'drawings being what 'is known as-'the bellows type of time limit overload 'rela 'The function of this type of relay is to c ose the control circuit to the 'switch operating meehanism or circuit breaker, thereby opening the main circuit when the -amperal'g'fe in the same is greater than that which is desired and for which 'the relay is adjusted to operate. In the simpleform o would be substantially instantaneous;

not be injurious 'if carried fora comparatively shorterjperiod, and therefore to permit an overload for an interval, relays commonly known as time limit relays are employed.:

The purpose of the time limit .relay isfto control the circuit breaker inthe VII'iainfcircuit and break the ,main circuit after `an interval of time; for instance, after one-'second or two seconds, or six seconds, etc.,de f

cuit at the expiration of that time if the overload continues, should theoverload run up to about 500 per cent., lit would require about 1-'1/1'0 seconds before the circuit would -be broken, during` which ltime 'the system might be greatly injured. My device is designed to obviate this difficulty and is arranged to give a substantially instantaneous release at a slight increase over the overload for which the device is adjusted, and also to prevent an vibrating or chattering of the relay, w ich in itself would impair the usefulness of the relay. As an example, if thefrelay were set to operate with 100 per cent. overload in six seconds, 'with my device applied and adjusted to relay this operation owever, an overload which might be desumel tive if allowed'to be carried for a time might i give a 'quick release at 15'() per cent. over.

at 500 per cent. overload the same wouh lease in approximately l/lO of a-secon less, and break the main circuit. It is vious thatl the values given as exami may be varied to some extent one Way or -.o other, depending upon the particular apparatus and conditions. Vith short cFfkicks or a 'slight overload not exceeding the point `for which my ldevice is set, the operation of the relay will be the same as before the ap pll'cat'lo'n of thedevice, but with large over- .loads or anything equaling the value for which my device is adjusted, the time of loperation of the relay will be greatly reduced. My invention has for its objects the production of a sir'njple, convenient and eicient valveo'f the `kind described, adapted to'be" 75' used in combination with any suitable form of relay or other apparatus upon which the sarneis applicable. l

'To this end my mvent1on consists 1n the novel construction, arrangement, and combinationof herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims. y

y Infthe drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts, preferred form of device is shown as appliedto .a time limit overload relay "of the bellows type.

re l` isa sectional viewof n preerr'e vform of device and the relay, i' 2 isa cross sectional view of my device tzlen substantially lon line '2 2 of Fig. l, Fig. 3 i's 'a cross sectional view of the same taken substantially on line 3.-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4; is a cross sectional View taken substantially on line of F ig. l, Fig. 5 .is a cross sectional View taken substantially on line 35-5 of Fig. l, and Fig. '6 is a sectional View taken substantially on line G-i' Re erring to the drawings l is a suitable shell or casing provided with a chamber 11 arranged a valve member adapted to cooperate with the valve seat 6 within the shell or casing 1. Any suitable means may be imloyed to normally retain the valve memu its seat. As shown a spring 8 is proi for that purpose. In the preferred :ruction I arrange a removable top 9 for ,hell 1 through which passes an adjustscrew member 11 which is chambered as 'n and adapted to receive the resilient iber 8 so that by adjusting the 'member he pressure on the valve memberis in- [sed Vor decreased as desired. Thev valve nber 5 may be provided with an extendportion 51 adapted to guide the same, and

auockn'ut 12 as shown ifv desired. One or more outlets 7 controlled by the valve 5 are preferably provided in the shell 1 as shown.

I, ,j In-` relays similar to that shown, which as above .stated is known as the bellows type, 18

` is the bellows and 181'the air or fluid chamber formed by the bellows V18 'and the head j ,Aortp 15. The top 15 is extended as at 16 i and provided with one or more outlets or 125 ducts`19 extending from the: fluid chamber j 181 to the interior of the extended portion 16 of the top 15, giving communication between the chamber 181 and the chamber 11 j within the shell or casing` 1j. The top 15 is '1,30 supported by means of the extended portion and brackets 32, which are lsecured to the relay casing 33. l Y

. The bellows'18 is o'perat'edand.- the fiuid thereby discharged from the chamber 181 by means of the rod 28 to which is'secured "the core 27, which is operatedby .the solenoid .6-26. When the ampera'ge in the conduc- ""tkrrs 29'and 30 to the solenoid 26 rises above i the point for which the relay is adjusted,

the core 27 'is raised, raising the rod-28 and 1 the switch member 25, thus lclosing -the cirl cuit between the contact points 24, 24, so that there is a closed lcircuit through the conductors 22 and 23, thus operating a suitf1 5 able switch or circuit breaker in the main line, circuit and breaking the main circuit.

In the form of relay shown, the core 27 is E adjustable for different amperages on the 57' rod-,28, a scale being provided as at 31 to 'a0 Iindicate the adjustment of the same..v As L the core is raised, the air or fluid in the chamber 181 is forced out and passes through the ducts 19 into the chamber 11 in the casing, and thence normally out through the i5 port 2, the position of the needle valve 3 controlling the time required to expel the air and close the circuit between the points 1 24, 24.

In my improved device the valve 5 is 30 normally closed, but should the overload in the main circuit run up to a point beyond that for which the valve 5v is adjusted, the same will be raised by the increased pres.- sure of the contained fluid, giving a sub- 5 stantially instantaneous release or substanreturn of the bellows 18 to normal position as the amperage in th` conductors 29 and 30 returns to normal, an inlet duct 2O is provided as shown, the valve 21 being arranged to prevent the duct 20 acting as an outlet. As the bellows 18 is released, the air enters the duct 20, raises the valve 21 and passes through the ducts 19 into the chamber 181. As shown the preferred construction is to extend the shell 1 as at 34 so that the same acts as a stop for the valve member 21.

It might be noted that with the preferred construction, if at any time it is not desired to use the instantaneous release, the adjustable member'lO may be screwed down, locking the valve 5 on itsI seat so that the discharge, of the fluid or operation of the relay would be controlled solely by the valve 3. Or, onthe other hand, if desired the valve 3 mightlbe closed and the relay controlled by thevalve 5. A Y

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made lin the form, design or arrangement of parts shown and described, or that the same may be used in combination with other yforms of relays or controlling mechanism upon whichthe same might be a plicable without departing from the spirit ci) my invention, hence I do not wish to be understood as 4limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement or combination of parts hereinshown and described.

lWhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Ina device 'of the kind described, controlling mechanism comprising a fluid chamber,'and means for controlling the gradual discharge of Huid therefrom, in combination with auxiliary means adapted to permit the substantially instantaneous discharge of fluid therefrom when .the pressure reaches a predetermined amount, and instrumentalities whereby either or both of said means may be rendered inoperative.

2. lIn a device of the kind described, an electrical relay rovided with means for controlling the time of operation thereof, said means comprising a fluid chamber, means for forcing the contained fluid therefrom, and means for controlling the time of discharge of fluid from said chamber, in combination with independent means adapted to ermit the substantially instantaneous operation of said relay when the fluid pressure in said chamber reaches a predetermined value, and instrumentalities whereby either or both of said means may be rendered inactive.

3. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a casing v,provided With an inlet and outlets, means for normally controlling the discharge of fluid from said casing, and means adapted tofsubstantially instantaneously permit the discharge of fluid therefrom when the pressure a predetermined value, comprising a movable valve member and means for normally retaining the same in the closed position, and meanswhereby the valve may be locked against movement;

4. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a casing provided with an inlet and outlets, means for normally controlling the discharge of fluid from said casing, and means adapted to substantially instantaneously permit the discharge of Huid therefrom when the pressure therein reaches a predetermined value, comprising a ,mov-

able valve member and adjustable vresilient means for normally retaining the same in the closed position, and means whereby the valve may be locked against movement.

5. In a device ofthe kind described, a relay controlling mechanismfor electrical cirtherein reaches v cuits, said means comprising a casing const,.

tuting a fluid chamber, means for forcing the content fluid therefrom, controlling the discharge of chamber including an outlet in fluid from said the side Wall of said casing and a valve for 'the outlet i 4 having an adjusting stem projecting through the side Wall of the casing, 1n combination With independent means adapted to permit the substantial instantaneous operation of said relay When the Sii and means for fluid pressure in said j chamber reaches a predetermined flow, the

same including an auxiliary outlet in the side Wall of the casing, a valve for control'- ling the same and adjusting mechanism for the latter projecting through the top of the casing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of tvvo subscribing Witnesses. Y

HARVEY J. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

RoY W. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB. 

